Is it saying, you can't put your foot down OR take your foot and have it dangling in the air in another plane?

Cause THAT makes sense.

Consider that you can leave a marked lane space by extending one's foot past the rear or front plane just as well as a side plane. Fed defines 'marked lane space' as 3' deep, beginning at outer edge of 3 sec lane. Recent change dictates that one foot must remain in close proximity to nearer lane line, IIRC.
CAVEAT: Although I post with the voice of authority, I could be entirely wrong as I am a former coach!!

Yes, and in the last couple of years they added the part about putting any part of your body on the floor outside the lane space; making it even more clear that those other body parts do not create a violation merely by breaking the plane.

8-4-G (p51 2010-11 NFHS Book)
 

It reads ... "Not more than one player may occupy any part of a marked lane space".

OK, I know it might be thin ... but it should be part of the discussion.

Obviously meant to prevent teammats from doubling up in a lane space; can't read too much into that.

Case Book 9.1.3
 

Indicates that extending the arms over the area between the lane spaces is legal if there is no contact. Of course it says nothing about extending into another contestant's lane space.

There's what, three inches between lane spaces?

I'll take space number 2.
 

http://hollywoodjunket.com/blog/wp-c...MakeADeal2.jpg

Reminds me of the Monty Hall Problem.

Monty Hall problem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Try it yourself:
Monty Hall Simulation

9-1-3d clearly defines what it means to enter or leave:

No player shall enter a marked lane space or leave a marked lane space by contacting the court outside the 36-inch by 36-inch space.

This clearly does not prohibit reaching unless you touch the floor

But, if the contestants switch lane spaces, there is a good probability that they will commit a violation as the space assignments are not random.

That's What It's All About ...
 

I'm confused. Are we playing patty cake, or our we doing the hokey pokey?

I believe some may quibble with my use of the word contestant
 

contestant
Noun
1con·tes·tant (k n-t s t nt, k n t s t nt) n. 1. One taking part in a contest; a competitor 2 a person who dissents from some established policy [syn: dissenter, dissident, protester, objector]

Admitedly, it does lead one to think of game shows.

Considering the rule book, case book, etc refer to players as, well, players, it is not surprising to think of other competitions. Like spelling bees.;)

two, actually ;)